“Sleep now. We’ll take care of this.”
She has already closed her eyes before we are even halfway to the doorway. TexBadass herds us out the door and closes it behind us, conducting a whispered discussion cramped at the top of the stairway.
“I hope we can actually help her brother,” Balderdash13 says. “Seems like battling a supernatural creature disturbing her sleep would have been easier than changing the future, or whatever is putting Ezra in danger.”
TexBadass shrugs with a grin. “A quest is a quest is a quest. We might fail, and then the quest will reset for whatever noob saunters in here next. Or we might succeed and all walk away with another level up and more loot.”
Chapter 18
As we descend the stairs, Callidus pulls out his map.
“Okay, where to now? My map shows a couple of yellow dots in the courtyard and—”
I’m distracted by a ding sound in my ear.
OtherTSwifty: ASHER!!!!!!!!! Guess who made it to Camlan!
SirAsh3r: Whoa … Tessa?
OtherTSwifty: Hell yeah! Carrie and Ryan are going to log in a little later today, but I called in sick to work. I wanted to be in the first wave.
SirAsh3r: So the game is open now?
OtherTSwifty: That’s right :) the whole world can now infiltrate your sacred space. LOL! What should I do first?
SirAsh3r: Oh man, I don’t know. It’s a whole open world. There’s no set quest chain or training for class, so just do whatever you want.
OtherTSwifty: Where are you? Can we meet up?
SirAsh3r: Oh, man. I want to. I have so much to tell you. But I’m kind of in the middle of a time-sensitive quest for Toterra
OtherTSwifty: Oooh, fancy. Okay gamerboy. Just hit me up when you’re done. This is going to be awesome! I’m so glad we can play Camlan together!
SirAsh3r: LOL Will do. TTYL
As I close out my instant messaging I get a request:
OtherTSwifty would like to add you to their friend list. Do you accept?
I hesitate for just a second. Adding Tessa as a friend will help her find where I am, and I don’t need that distraction … but, then again, it probably would take her a while to get here since she’s starting from level 10 anyway.
“Right, Asher?” Erinocalypse is saying.
I quickly accept Tessa’s friend request and turn my attention back to the group. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh, so sorry to interrupt. You got something more important going on?”
“Actually, yeah. My friend just messaged me. Toterra just opened the game up to the rest of the world. Looks like we’re no longer the only ones.”
“Goddammit,” TexBadass mutters.
“I know. But we’re like almost four full days ahead of them all so we probably will be able to continue unbothered. I’m sorry. Anyway. What were you saying?”
“I think we should find the courtyard,” Erinocalypse explains. “Looks like there are two ingredients we need in that part of the castle and the door to get there is at the very bottom of the main staircase.”
“Cool, yeah.”
“On it,” Callidus says, raising one hand in the air like a drum major. “Follow me.”
I grin as he leads us down the stairs, through the corridors and other stairways we took to get up there, and to the open doorway near the foot of the stairs. He doesn’t bother to turn on his Stealth; all the soldiers in the castle are more than aware of our presence. At the door to the courtyard, a stern-looking guard stops us, crossing his spear across the doorway.
Name: Private Moyer
Level: 29
Description: One of Queen Vivian’s guard
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“We need to get into the courtyard. We’re on an errand for Professor Dove and we need to speak to the blacksmith and the gardener, please,” Callidus says. “Madam Avery said you all would support us in our quest.”
The soldier looks at each one of us in turn, frowning the entire time, but he can’t come up with a reason to detain us. He lifts his spear out of the way, but makes no further effort, eyeing us one by one as we file past him.
As we step through the door into the courtyard, I turn my face to the sky. A large tree dominates the center of the space, but plenty of sunshine streams down to us. It’s early afternoon in Camlan, and the castle workers are out in force to finish all their chores before sunset.
Between the Toterra Online compound and the last half of the dungeon being underground I haven’t felt sun on my face in days. Even if it’s fake sun like this. I wonder if the Toterra Capsules are coded to dose us with vitamin D. That would be awesome and super convenient.
The courtyard is not that large; I suppose Castle Nennius isn’t that large either. I can see all four corners from where we’re standing—the stables, the vegetable garden, the blacksmith, the well.
Balderdash13 spots the gardener first and makes a beeline for her. She is squatting over a row of what looks like strawberries, in a dirty blue dress and blue handkerchief over her salt and pepper hair. Her body and limbs are thin and wiry; she seems to be made of just muscle and bone.
“Hi. Hey. Excuse me,” the tank says to the NPC who is clearly working and takes no notice of other people in the area. “Excuse me?”
Name: Ida Firth
Level: 37
Description: Castle Nennius gardener. Ida is responsible for growing all the fruit and vegetables for the queen and her court.
“Yes,” Ida says, frowning and not stopping her weeding. “What is it?”
While Balderdash13 tries to explain what we’re looking for and ask for the gardener’s help, I walk around the border of the vegetable garden. The plants closest to the interior of the courtyard seem healthy and robust. I haven’t the slightest idea about gardening, but I would guess whatever root vegetable that is growing under that leafy top is probably ready to pick soon. The plants closest to the castle wall, though, seem to be barely hanging on. At intervals, a wild-looking vine pops out of the dirt near the wall, and in the vicinity of those plants, there do not seem to be any vegetables growing at all.
No wonder Ida seems irritated that we are bothering her. We’ve interrupted her attempts to take care of her plants.
“I don’t have time for this,” Ida says sharply, interrupting Balderdash13’s request. “My vegetables need all my attention and showing you lot where to find an Ice Blossom is the last thing I can worry about today.”
“Do you know who else can help us find an Ice Blossom?” SteelFeather asks hopefully.
“No.”
She has already resumed her hoeing, hacking at one of the wild-looking vines that is growing toward the base of a tomato plant.
On a hunch, I suggest, “SteelFeather, why don’t you help her with that?”
“Huh? Gardening? I don’t know how to garden.”
“Ma’am? Miss Firth.” I approach her confidently. I just need to convince her we are the solution to her problems. “You seem to be trying to weed, or—”
“These ain’t weeds,” she says, interrupting. “These is Noose Vine climbing up from under the castle.” She spits. “The blasted thing is out of control and will cover the whole castle in no time, but Captain Crowhurst won’t do anything about it. Says it’s not dangerous. Hmph.”
“But you think it is?”
“Didja hear me? It’s gonna cover the whole castle. It’s too smart. It’s already grown through the dirt under this whole wing.” She bangs on the stone wall next to her with a fist. “It’s choking my carrots and will reach the onions and potatoes next if I’m not out here every day hacking it back.”
“What if we helped you destroy it?” I suggest.
For the first time in the conversation, Ida looks at me, sizes me up. I don’t have the muscle and strength of SteelFeather, but she doesn’t know about my Bow of Elements.
“We’d be happy to help,” I continue. “The six of us should be able to destroy it complete
ly, if we work together. If we take care of this vine, would you have time to help us find an Ice Blossom?”
Ida snorts, laughing. “Alright. Might as well let you try. If you destroy the Noose Vine—destroy, mind you, not just prune—I’ll help you with the blossom.”
Quest Offered: Annihilate the Invader
Description: Outside Castle Nennius is a Noose Vine. Destroy it and return to Ida for your reward
Reward: +200 XP, Ice Blossom
“Great. Thanks. We’ll take care of this right away for you,” Balderdash13 says.
“So, now we have to figure out how to get outside the castle and back in again?” TexBadass mutters out of her hearing. “How are we going to do that?”
Chapter 19
In almost the exact opposite corner of the courtyard, the blacksmith’s bellows are raging. He or she is nowhere in sight, but with the fire burning, they can’t have gone far. As a group, we cross over to where the shop is set up. I feel the heat as we get closer, but it seems tame compared to the Axios Trial and being literally lit on fire.
A pile of plain-looking swords sits on the ground next to the fire. The anvil sits bare and the barrels are mostly empty. Whatever project the blacksmith completed most recently has already been delivered to the new owner. I pick up the tongs left sitting in the fire, amazed to see the red hot glowing metal.
“Do not touch that,” a gruff voice says over my shoulder.
I return the tool carefully and hide my hands behind my back. When I turn to see who it is, a round, balding man, almost six inches shorter than me, with a pure white goatee, elbows me out of his way.
Name: Horace Pearson
Level: 39
Description: Castle Nennius blacksmith, he is responsible for all the nails, tools, and, most of all, weapons, that the castle could ever need.
“What is it you all want?” Horace says, circling around the anvil to stand behind it.
“We’re on an errand for Professor Dove,” Balderdash13 begins. “We were hoping you could help us find the Flame of Eavoth.”
“And what makes you think I can do that?” he asks, almost bored as he pokes at the fire.
The yellow dot on my electronic map. Out loud, I say, “Well, sir, of course you are known to be the master of fire at Castle Nennius. Who else would we come to for such a treasure?”
He smirks at me. “Yeah, okay. Quit it the flattery, young man. I see what you’re doing.”
The six of us all exchange glances.
“So, then … can you help us?” Balderdash13 asks.
“As a matter of fact, I can,” he announces. “Of course, I can. I’m the only one in a twelve-mile radius that can create the Flame of Eavoth. I can give it to you and even show you how to use it.”
“That’s wonderful. Thank you so much—”
“But I can’t do it now.”
Of course. Freaking, of course.
“What do you need from us?” I flash him my widest smile. I probably look manic.
“I need copper and wood. You bring me that and I’ll throw in the earthenware pot you need to transport it.”
Quest Offered: From the Smallest Spark
Description: Gather the two ingredients Horace needs to create the Flame of Eavoth and bring them back to the blacksmith for your lesson
Reward: + 200 XP; Recipe for Flame of Eavoth
Requirements:
Small Piece of Pure Copper
Blossomed Branch of Yew Tree
“That’s it? That seems—”
“It’s a very specific piece of wood.”
“Of course it is,” I say under my breath.
“You see that tree?”
He points to the ancient yew tree that dominates the center of the courtyard. Its trunk maybe eight feet in diameter, with a rough, thick bark making me wonder exactly how difficult it will be to climb and cut through. The tree’s branches extend for a dozen or so yards in every direction, stretching out to cover part of Ida’s garden, almost dragging along the ground near the well and reaching up out of the shade of the castle walls.
“Castle Nennius was built around this tree,” Horace continues. “Its magical properties are among the strongest in the kingdom. I know Professor Dove in particular came here in order to be close to it.”
“Okay, so we need to … bring you a piece of that tree?”
“Yes. But not just any piece. I need you to bring me one of the branches that has a blossom on it.”
I turn and give the tree another good look. “But all those branches are at the top.”
“They are.” He nods. “That’s true.”
“How are we supposed to get those?”
He shrugs. “Don’t ask me. Why do you think the Flame of Eavoth is so rare?”
“Okay,” Erinocalypse is still eying the tree. “A branch with a blossom from the top of that yew tree. And you said copper?”
“Right. I don’t need a lot of it, but it must be pure.”
“Do you know where we can get some?”
He shrugs. “I’m sure there’s some in the castle. You can find it.”
“That sounds suspiciously easy,” TexBadass says.
“Does it?” The blacksmith’s expression remains impassive.
“Well, other than climbing to the top of that behemoth, yeah.” TexBadass narrows his eyes at him. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
Horace smiles and spreads his hands wide, as though showing us he’s not hiding anything. “I told you. There’s a reason Flame of Eavoth is so rare. I can’t actually recall how long it has been since I was asked to create it. Take that information for what you will.”
“Alright. Thank you,” Balderdash13 says, jumping in. “Thank you. We’ll be back when we have the materials for you.”
Horace grunts and returns to stoking his fire. “I look forward to it,” he says over his shoulder.
I can’t imagine he actually means that, but it doesn’t matter. First, we have to get the pieces he needs. With the size of the tree, within just a few steps away from the blacksmith we’re already within reach of some of the lower branches. The blossom-less branches.
“How are we going to get up there?” Erinocalypse asks.
“Any of y’all climbers?”
Balderdash13 shakes her head. “I’m afraid of heights, actually. Please don’t make me go up there.”
I make my way over to the base of the tree and place my palm against the thick, gnarled bark. It’s warmer than I expect, especially considering there’s no direct sunlight on this side of the courtyard. I feel a hum. There’s a pulsing, a power deep in the heart of this tree. The magic within is unmistakable.
“I think,” I say, slowly turning back to the group. “I think those of us who are going to mix the potion have to each get our own branches. I think the magic of alchemy requires that, like Professor Dove was saying about whoever mixes the potion is the only one who can use that batch. All three of us have to climb.”
“Oh thank god,” Balderdash13 says under her breath.
“Aw hell,” TexBadass says at the same time.
Chapter 20
TexBadass and Erinocalypse join me at the trunk of the old, magical yew tree that sprawls over the courtyard of Castle Nennius.
I place both of my hands on the trunk of the tree and look up, examining the layout and design of the branches. It’s easy to identify a pretty clear path to the top of the tree. For a moment I wish I had Scaling Weed, but for this climb I don’t really need it. This is a tree that was made to be climbed. Coded to be climbed, probably. The lowest branches are so close to the ground it’s only one tall step up for me.
Once I’ve pulled myself up to the first branch, the next two steps up are clear, almost like stairs winding around the trunk of the tree. I have to be aware of my cloak; it keeps getting caught on the rough bark, but I ascend the trunk in only a minute or two. It’s when I get to the point in the tree where the branches are no longer thick enough to suppo
rt my weight that I have to pause and reassess.
I look around. Erinocalypse is just a few branches below me and TexBadass below her.
What I need is a net or something. No, even that wouldn’t work. I can’t break off a branch with a net. I peer into the canopy above me. The blossoms are on the very top of the tree, closest to the sun and as far away from me as possible.
I try climbing the narrower branches, but they bend under my weight, crashing into each other on their way down. I’m afraid as soon I let go they’ll snap back and whip one of the three of us. I try remaining on this branch by pulling the narrower ones down to me, but I have a hard time navigating through the tree. Other branches stop its progress. I’m knocking leaves down as I push and pull, trying to get the end of the branch closest to me.
“Damn it,” I say.
Erinocalypse has reached me; she sits with a leg on either side of her own branch, level with me but on the other side of the tree.
“Huh,” she says teasing. “If only we had a spell or something that would burn through wood?”
She stares at me, raising her eyebrows, clearly trying to impart some bigger meaning that I am not getting. She tries a few more seconds before rolling her eyes and laughing at me.
“What? Wait, what am I missing?”
She throws me a cute smile over her shoulder and casts a spell that looks familiar, but I can’t quite …
The beam of energy that she shoots from her hand and bores into one of the thin branches high above us. I’m impressed by her aim and—
Oh. Duh. That’s why it looks familiar. I literally just used that spell to burn through the smoke spirits in the corridor. And that’s the same spell she used to burn through the tree to free me from that goblin. Except that tree was a lot thicker than these branches are.
I cast my own Burning Smite and aim for one of the branches high above me.
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